Classroom Debate Instructions - Henriksen Science



Classroom Debates

Introduction

The classroom debates are exercises designed to allow you to strengthen your skills in the areas of leadership, interpersonal influence, teambuilding, group problem solving, and oral presentation. Debate topics and position statements are outlined below. Individuals may sign up on a first come, first served basis, by specifying both the role and position desired (i.e., Pro or Con). All group members are expected to participate in the research, development, and presentation of your debate position. Preparation will require substantial l research. Each participating member will receive the same group grade.

Debate Format

5 minute Position Presentation - Pro

5 minute Position Presentation - Con

5 minute Work Period

4 minute Rebuttal - Pro

4 minute Rebuttal - Con

3 minute Work Period

2 minute Response - Pro

2 minute Response - Con

1 minute Work Period

2 minute Position Summary - Pro or Con

2 minute Position Summary - Pro or Con

5 minute Tallying of Ballots/Announcement of Winner

40 minutes total

Debate Procedure

The debate will take the form of timed group presentations and responses separated by timed group work periods. The rules applied may deviate from the formal rules of debating. When questions arise, the judgment of the instructor will provide the definitive ruling.

Prior to the beginning of the class period, both teams are to position their tables facing each other. Each team is to write its team name, debate position, and debate position statement on paper behind their desks Note that absolutely no changes may be made to the position statements presented below. You must argue them exactly as written!

Team members may speak either from their desks or from the center of the room, as they desire. Audiovisuals may be used at any time, including, but not limited to, handouts, flipcharts, transparencies, slides, audio and videotapes, etc. While a team is not required to use all of the time allocated to each debate component, speakers must stop immediately when the allocated time runs out. Team members are prohibited from speaking to the audience or opposing team except at the times specifically allocated to them. Thus, there can be no immediate, reciprocal interchange of comments between the teams. The sequence of the position summaries will be determined by a random procedure at the conclusion of the final work period. Note that no new information may be introduced during the summary. Doing so may result in disqualification of the offending group. If either team feels that their opponents are introducing new information during the summary, they may challenge them immediately and request a ruling from the instructor.

Selection of Winner(s) and Allocation of Points

The instructor reserves the right to allocate fewer than the default or class voted points to a group, if, in her opinion, the quality of preparation and/or presentation was inadequate. Debate "losers" who prepare and present adequately will receive points for their efforts.

Debate "Winners" will be selected in two ways, as follows:

Audience Vote: Class members in the audience will vote by secret ballot for a debate winner. Votes are to be based upon presentation quality only, and not upon personal agreement or disagreement with the position espoused. At the conclusion of each component of the debate, class members will be asked to assign a point rating along with explanatory comments to each team for their performance during that component. When the debate is over, the point ratings will be summed. Whichever team has the higher sum will be the winner on that ballot. After all ballots are collected, the number of votes for each team will be announced. Whichever team has more votes will be the winner, and the team will receive 5 bonus points in addition to the 5 for participating in the debate. In the event of a tie, the instructor’s vote will decide the winner.

Instructors' Vote: The instructor will also evaluate both teams according to the above procedures and criteria, and select his choice for the winner. The team of his choice will receive and addition al 5 bonus points. Thus, depending upon the nature of the vote split, the "Winner(s)" may receive up to 15 bonus points. The debate itself is worth a total of 50 points.

Audience Roles and Allocation of Points

The instructor will also evaluate the comments given by each audience member. Comments should reflect an accurate understanding of the debate and an indepth knowledge of the subject matter. You should be able to understand what a valid argument is and understand all comcepts being debated. You will receive a mark out of 50 points but will have no opportunity for extra credit.

DEBATE BALLOT

Debate ______________________________________________ Class _____________

Name of Evaluator ____________________________________ Date _____________

1 2 3 4 5

Poor Fair Average Good Excellent

PRO CON

5 Minute Position Presentation

|Rating = ____ Comments: |Rating = ____ Comments: |

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***** 5 Minute Work Period *****

4 Minute Rebuttal

|Rating = ____ Comments: |Rating = ____ Comments: |

| | |

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| | |

| | |

| | |

***** 3 Minute Work Period *****

Continued on Reverse ---------->

2 Minute Response

|Rating = ____ Comments: |Rating = ____ Comments: |

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***** 1 Minute Work Period *****

2 Minute Position Summary

|Rating = ____ Comments: |Rating = ____ Comments: |

| | |

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[ ] Total Points [ ] Total Points

Circle Winner Below:

PRO CON

General Comments:

Signature of Evaluator:

Team Presentation Evaluation

Debate ______________________________________________ Class _____________

Name of Evaluator ____________________________________ Date _____________

Pro Con

1 2 3 4 5 Quality of Professional Attire/Grooming 1 2 3 4 5

1 2 3 4 5 Verbal Behavior (clarity/choice of words/voice level) 1 2 3 4 5

1 2 3 4 5 Nonverbal Behavior (posture; gestures/movement; eye contact; 1 2 3 4 5

use of notes/reading)

1 2 3 4 5 Level of Audience Focus (addressed remarks to the audience.) 1 2 3 4 5

1 2 3 4 5 General Coherence (Ability to follow points; quality of transitions) 1 2 3 4 5

1 2 3 4 5 Respect (shown throughout the debate for the opposing team) 1 2 3 4 5

(One point off for each violation)

Strengths

Weaknesses

Improvements

Signature of Evaluator:

Debate Rules

No put downs.

Teams lose 1 point for each interruption.

Teams lose 1 point for whispering while another speaker is talking.

|Name___________________ Role_____________ |

|Opening Statement:  |

|Gathers the main arguments into an introductory statement.  Does not give specific information; just says "this is true because|

|of A and B and C."  |

|1. |

|Topic Arguements :  |

|Present the main arguments for the team.  Each presenter give specific details that prove A and B and C.  |

|1. |

| |

|2. |

| |

|3. |

|Rebuttal:  |

|Answer the arguments of the other team.  Presenters must take notes as the other team is presenting their arguments and respond|

|to every argument, using specific information to disprove them.  |

|1. |

| |

|2. |

| |

|3. |

| |

|Response Presenters:  |

|Responds to the rebuttal of the other team.  |

|1. |

|Closing Statement:  |

|Presents the closing arguments for the team.  Repeats the main idea for this and this and this reasons.  |

|1. |

| |

| |

| |

| |

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For Instructor Use Only: Evaluator Grade ___________/8

For Instructor Use Only: Evaluator Grade ___________/8

For Instructor Use Only: Evaluator Grade ___________/8

For Instructor Use Only: Evaluator Grade ___________/8

For Instructor Use Only: Evaluator Grade ___________/18

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